Contracts with God ~ IF THEN Part 1

Greetings Dear Reader,

When I first learned to program in BASIC back when I used to do so on my TRS80, I was overly fond of the IF THEN statement.  The TRS80 was my first computer.  It had, read this carefully, 16K of RAM and two floppy drives.  It even came with a cassette player so that I could load programs that would not fit on a floppy disk.

A friend and I decided that we wanted to improve a game we both enjoyed.  We discovered that modifying some of the IF THEN statements and enhancing the contained values made the game more challenging.  We also could nest the statements to create multiple outcomes.

For those who do not understand this it is simple.  The statement is a logical contract.  It says IF condition A is true THEN do B.  It can also have a default outcome.  This is IF condition A is true THEN B, ELSE C.  If player has the GOLDEN KEY, open the SECRET DOOR, else RELEASE the fire trap.  

So many linear games depend on this to move the player through the game.  We also apply this logic to much of our lives.  We enter many conditional social contracts where we agree to do something if someone else does as well.  In crisis we create IF THEN contracts with God.

It usually goes like this: “God IF you do A then I will do B”.  My friend Tony once told me that he had been telling God that if he got a date with a certain girl that he would never speed again.  He got the date and a speeding ticket whilst on the date. 

The problem is that IF went enter into a contract with God he THEN expects us to live up to it.  He requires us to pay what we promised.  Solomon clearly points out, “When you make a promise to God, don't be slow to keep it because God doesn't like fools. Keep your promise.”

We may forget the IF THEN Promise as soon as we are out of the crisis.  The problem is that God does not.  I do not want to be in that position.  I must honor my contracts with God.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

IF – The “IF then” Falsehood

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hear this too often for it to be complacent about it.  I have had to learn that it is a smoke screen and not to be blinded to love and compassion by it.  It is false test that will never yield the requested but not truly required results.

The test comes in form of statements concerning what God would or would not do:

• If God exists then he would ….
• If God loves us then he would not allow…
• If there is a God then why does he not…

These series of ifs arise from a complete misunderstanding of how we approach God.  He never attempts to prove that he exits or that he is God.  He never subjects himself to our demands.  He insists that we approach him in faith.  He insists that we seek him with an honest and open heart. 

I find that the aforementioned ifs are often asked in a spirit of unbelief or dissatisfaction with how the world unfolds.  We are not in a position to make demands of God.  We are in need of him.  We are dependent upon him whether we wish it or not.

When I struggled with faith I often asked for proof of God’s existence.  I often demanded that he bend the world to my will.  I often accused him of failing to handle things as I should like them.

We fail to see who God is when we proffer these ifs.  We fail see that his very nature precludes them.  We need to approach him with a different set of ifs:

• If God exists then what does he wish from me?
• If God loves me then how should I respond to that love?
• If I seek him with all my heart what will I find?

The “:if then” of these questions I have pursued for four decades.  I have found that they yield answers that guide and often satisfy.  When I fail at them I find my mind reverting to demanding and faithless questions.  I must always return to the best of the ifs.  God promises, “IF you seek me with all your heart THEN you will find me.” 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)